Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 1,599 recorded sales of Cartier and 1,055 of Vacheron Constantin, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Cartier result is $6,875. The median Vacheron Constantin result is $8,125. On typical examples, Vacheron Constantin carries roughly 1.2 times the price of Cartier at auction.
Half of all Cartier sales land between $3,250 and $15,360. For Vacheron Constantin the middle half runs $3,840 to $19,250.
Which one surprises the specialists
51% of Cartier lots beat their high estimate, against 46% for Vacheron Constantin. The two are closely matched, which suggests both are priced with similar confidence.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 436 distinct Cartier references and 314 for Vacheron Constantin, with results going back to 2001 and 2001 respectively. The top recorded result is $1,654,276 for Cartier and $1,762,500 for Vacheron Constantin.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
